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He grins. “Just checking on something.” His gaze roves over my new dress. It’s actually an old one of Tegan’s, but I’ve never worn it before. It has a high neckline, but it hugs my figure and the open back drops almost to my buttocks. That’s fine, since the weather is warmer now, and I’m pretty sure Luke will lend me his jacket at the first sign of a shiver.

Luke walks around me to take a look at the back and whistles. “Babe, you should have warned me. I would have come down earlier, so I could appreciate you properly. Now I have to go out in public with you looking like that, and I haven’t made you cum in hours.”

I laugh, because it’s literally only been hours. He woke me up this morning with his head between my legs and made me cum four times before breakfast as his way of wishing me good luck with my first ever art exhibition.

We hurry into Luke’s truck and he drives me to the gallery about fifteen minutes out of town. It’s been converted from an old farm outbuilding and still has that rustic wool shed feel, complete with a corrugated iron roof. Inside, it's been fully renovated. There are clean white walls where all my paintings hang just the way I left them. Exposed beams and a wooden floor give the place a semi-industrial feel, though, which I love. It goes with the sort of half-finished look I’ve gone for with this collection. I kept the edges of the paintings white, fading out the picture so it looks almost like an impression, rather than a finished image. Full of muted greys and blacks, the collection is supposed to represent dreams or desires you realise don’t quite turn out the way you thought.

The carpark is so full I think for a moment we’re not going to find a spot. I can’t believe it. There has to be more people here than just locals.

Sandra, the gallery owner, rushes over as soon as she spots Luke’s truck. Of course, my first instinct is to think something’s gone horribly wrong.

“Mia! Oh, my gosh.” Her long earrings are jangling around in her excitement.

“Sandra, what is it?” I close the door behind me and prepare myself for the worst.

“It’s sold out.”

I blink at her. “It’s what?”

“Completely sold out. I just had a phone call from a Sydney buyer. They want everything. They asked for your contact details to commission more.”

My jaw drops open and I just stare at her for a long moment.

Luke nudges me. “Babe, that’s amazing. I knew you could do it.”

I shake my head, unable to believe this is real. “Do we know who the buyer is? Are you sure they want everything?”

Sandra nods. “Yup. Already sent through a holding deposit.”

I float into the gallery and stare at all the people dressed up and holding cocktails, walking around looking at my art. My sold out art! This can’t be real. I stop when I spot two familiar figures. My heart jumps into my throat.

I reach out blindly and grab Luke’s hand, holding tight as I tow him across the short distance to where my parents are standing. “Mum, Dad. How did you find out about this?”

Beside me, Luke coughs. “I, uh... I might have had a hand in that. I hope you’re not mad.”

Mum jumps in before I can react, laying an elegant hand on my arm. “Mia, I just want to say that we’re sorry. We were wrong. We came tonight to support you, and to ask for your forgiveness.” She looks to Luke. “Both of you.”

Dad clears his throat. “When you left like that, I have to admit, it was a bit of a wake-up call.” He holds out his hand to Luke. “You’re a better man than I am, son. It was very gracious of you to reach out to us. I want to apologise again for the things I did.”

Luke takes his hand and shakes it, but I can tell he’s uncomfortable. “Don’t worry about it. Honestly. I’d do anything to make Mia happy.”

I look from my mum to my dad, and take it all in. My throat feels tight and scratchy when I finally say, “I’m glad you came. I’m not coming back to work, though. Or to Sydney. Things are all settled with Oliver, and the apartment’s sold. My life is here now.”

Dad smiles. “So I see. I have to say, Mia, this is a great success. You’ve done well.”

Something occurs to me, and I narrow my eyes. “You didn’t buy out the exhibition did you?”

Dad shakes his head and Mum brushes a tiny speck from her classic little black dress. “I might have mentioned it to some friends of mine, but I assure you, we did nothing more than that. This success is all yours, honey.”

For some reason that is the thing that finally makes me cry. I brush stupidly beneath my eyes, trying to keep my makeup from running.

“Come on. Let’s get you a drink.” Luke looks around. He steers me aside from the crowd for a moment while I collect myself.

Noah and Jack approach, drinks in hand, that they hold up to me. “Well done, Mia.”

Jack grins. “We should run more of these things. I’ve had more bookings this week at Inlet Views than we had for the last two months!”

I smile. “That’s great. You know it would be fun to have a sort of festival of arts. I bet the Rotary Club would be in on that. There are so many wonderful local artists.”

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